Moving-picture machine.



Patented Apr. 6, 1915;

3 BHEET8-SHEBT 1.

I 3 n uewloz 71 9 m;

G. W. BINGHAM.

MOVING PICTURE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED mmao. 1910.

wi c wc oocoj 4 7 G. W. BINGHAM.

MOVING PICTURE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED mm. 30, 1910.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wi tmaooco (P 2mm M W- G. w. BINGH AM. MOVINGPI CTURE MACHINE.

APPLICATION man MAR. 30. 1910.

1,134,664. Patented Apr. 3,1915;

3 BHEETS-SHEBT 3.

' ray Emma/om: 8mm wtpz or rnconllrn, NEW YORK, AssIsNon 'ro 'IHE- BING'HAM mannrac'rqrrne COMPANY; A CORPORATION or MAINE.

s PATENT cur os.

MOVING-PICTURE MACHINE.

a. ,To a ll tviiom'it may concern.

-.-.Be it known that I, GEORGE W. BIKGHAM,

a citizen of the United States, and aresident of borough of Brooklyn; in the county of Kingsand. State of New York, have in- I vented, certain new anduseful- Improvemess? in Movingrl lcture Machines, of which ti following is a specification. l,

m invention relates to improvementsin moving picture machines, and in particniar to the film handling mechanism thereon;

In a prior application filed May'17, 1909,

Serial, No. 493,512,,ofmi1ie1; havealready disclosed and claimed amethod of and a machine for handling the film in such a way that the used portion of the film,after be.-

' ing passed through the machine, is rewound with the leadin end :aztward, so that the film may be use again, directly, without the customary necessity for rewinding the film.

The present invention is an improvement on this former machine and is designed more he t particularly for the handling of longvfilms, .(iii thousand feet lengthsmore or less). In coilin and uncoiling, the film, unless it is .proper yheld atall points, has a tend; eney to buckle, twist and curl, and this tendency is of course magnified in proportion to the length-of the film.

.The rincipal ,ob3ect ofmy invention to properytcontrol the movement of the film and to prevent curling-and twisting of the film iscoiled, and this rotary member may same...

Broadly, the invention consists in feeding the film from a film support;to a-film receiver, coiling the-film within the receiver, and in providing means for so holding the film as to cause it to coil itself in regular formation in the receiver. i

The receiver for the film preferably consists of a rotary member within which the conveniently receive its rotary motion from the coiling impulse of the film Within the member) While the "means for holding the film during .the coiling thereof is preferably in the form of an inclined bottom to the receiver, which'causes the film as it is wound therein, to gravitate toward therim or inner periphery of the member and form a compact coil resting against the rim of the receiver.

Another feature of my invention is a guide for directing the film into the edge portion of the receiver so as to assist in coil- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application liled March 30, 1910. Serial No. 552.346.

Patented Apr. 6, 191-5.

in the film within the same. In order to al ow for the increased size of the film roll as it s wound in the receiver, the guide and the, receiver are movably related one with respect to the other, and to secure a constant coiling eliiciency of the guide, Iprovide' Ior maintaining a constant-relation.

between the mouth of the guide and the in- ;cilne bottom of the receiver.

; Further features of. the invention comprise a; novel holding deviceon the inner wall of the receiver, adapted to be engaged hythe leading end of the film a 'ndl-a novel 'form of clasp, adapted, in case the film geeks, to hold the loose broken endfof the 'mi 1 Other features of the invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings there is llustrated a preferredembodiment of my invention, butit will of course be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without -departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. Also the various features of the invention arenot necessarily limited to a moving picthe film receiver and supporting. means therefor, certain of'the parts being broken awayfand shown in section. Fig. 4,- is a Fig, .5, is -a detail sectional viewtakenon the line 55 of Fig. 3, to illustrate he initial feeding'relation of the guide and filmsre vceiver. Fig. 6, is a detail View of a clip which I may use for securing a broken end on the film in the receiver. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the adjustable support for the guide,

looking downward on the same as it appears in Fig. 1'. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the film guide and the support for the same, taken on line 88 of Fig. 1. For the sake of clearness the lines indicating the reduced edge portion of the film guide or chute have been omitted from this figure.

cross-sectional view of the film support.

Like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several from the roll,

views.

In practice,'the film is usually led from the roll of film in the film support down, through the machine, to a receiver within which the film is rewound, both the support and the receiver being passive, and receiving their respective unwinding and rewinding motions'from the feeding movement of the film. As to certain of the features of the invention, however, it is immaterial whether the film support and receiver be merely passive or receive motion from some external source, and the invention is to be construed accordingly.

The film supporting member, as a whole,

is designated 1, and the receiver, 2. The film.

support preferably consists of a supporting disk 3, which is 'rotatively engaged on a spindle 4, and the disk is preferably inelosed within a casing 5. The roll of film is placed upon the disk and the end is fed through a guide (which may be a pair of rollers 6) down through the mechanism by which the intermittent feeding motion is imparted to the film. In order to allow the film to freely run off the edge of the disk and to assist in centering the roll with respect to the disk, said disk is preferably provided with downwardlyvdirected edge portions 7, which may be either curved or angular, as desired. Thecasing is preferably provided with a hinged cover 8, to permit the placing of the film roll on the disk. The film support is preferably mounted on a standard or support 9, independent of the machine so that the machine may be independently removed, or the film support may be applied to any machine, but if desired, the film support may be carried by the machine proper. In orderto permit of a certain amount of adjustment of the film support with respect to the machine, the base ofthe standard 9, is preferably fastened on the table or stand as by means of a slotted connection 10.

The film roll when it is placed in the film support may be more or less irregular in shape, and therefore, if noother means were provided, the film might uncoil irregularly In order then to properly hold the film roll upon the disk and to center the same with respect to the disk. I preferably provide a spreader or spreading device which is adapted to engage .the inner part of the film roll so as to hold the same distended in the shape of.a substantially true circle. In its preferred form this spreader consists of an inverted cone-shaped disk 11, the inclined face of which rests upon the inner convolutions of the coil. This spreader may be centered upon the spindle by means of a bushing 12. It will be understood that the spreader simply rests upon the inside of the coil and rotates with the coil.

The receiver for the used portion of the film is preferably in the form of a circular shell -13, provided with an upstanding annular rim 14, and the means for holding the film within the'receiver so as to cause the of, so that as thefilm is fed into the receiver a it is coiled progressively toward the center] of the receiver and with the leading end. of the film outward. The receiver is prefer-- ably loosely journaled so as to receive its,

rotary motion merely from the feeding im-p f pulse of the film. The leading end of the film is guided into the receiver so as to engage against the inner periphery thereof and to rest in the annular depression afore:

said, which depression serves to hold the V V first convolution or so, of the film, outward in engagement with the wall of the receiver.; Then as the succeeding convolutions of the film are fed into the receiver the inclined supporting surfaces cause the coils to gravi-- tatetoward the rim of the receiver. In this way it will be understood that the filmis wound in the receiver in a compact coil resting against the annular rim thereof. This conical bottom also prevents the film from curling or twisting, and causes the film to be wound in a regular coil. To further assist in holding the leading end of the film.

outward in engagement with the rim of the receiver, I may provided either one or a series of clips or holding devices 17, which may be carried by the rim of the receiver. I have shown these holding devices in the form of Wings struck inward from the material of the rim.

Some guiding means are necessary for properly directing the film within the re.-

. ceiver and for this purpose I preferably usei a guide in the form of an open chute 18, I having the edges thereof turned inward as at 19, so as to inclose only the edge portions of the film strip. Also the bottom,

portion of the guide, or that portion be- 129 tween the inturned edges thereof, is pref erably depressed below the plane of the said v edge portions as at 20, so that by'this eonstruction the film is guided merely'by engaging the perforated edge portions thereof :5

and without touching the effective or picture-carrying portion.

Both the film support and the receiver ar preferably'journaled so as to rotate in a horizontal plane, but it will be understood 39" ceiver and against the inner periphery therereceiver isthus journaled to rotate horr that other arrangements than this may be employed. if found desirable. \\-hen the zontallv. the guide has to he of such shape as to direct the iihn from a substantially vertical plane (as it issues from the machine proper} to a substantially horizontal.

plane at the'point where it is directed into the rut-river. This may be done by giving the guide a bodily twist, substantially as indicated at 21.

' Initially. the guide and the rim of the. rci-eiwr Hlt' disposed closely adjacent each other so that the leading end of the film will be brought into close engagement with the rim of the receiver. .\s the roll of film within the receiver increases in size, however, the guide or the receiver must yield one with respect to the 'other so as to allow for this increase in the size of the film roll. This relative movement between the guide and receiver accomplished preferably by engaging the receiver on a pintle carried on the end of a swinging arm :23. This swinging arm permits the receiver to have. av radial movement toward and away from the guide. It is essential for the greatest cll'u-icnc v of the guide that the mouth of the guide be at all times closely adjacent to the bottom of the receiver and on account of the conical'shape of the. bottom. some means are necessary for compensating for the grad ual incline of the bottom. 1n the present instance this compensating means acts to lower the receiver with respect to the guide at a rate proportionate to the movement of the receiver with respect to the guide. The same result, however. might be obtained by raising the mouth of the guide. The compensating means is here shown in the form of a supporting arm 2-4, having an inclined bearing surface '25, corresponding in angle to the inclined bottom of the receiver. The receiver is provided with a central bearing point 26 which rides upon this inclined surface. There is also preferably provided av spring 27, or equivalent means for normally holding the receiver up at the top of the incline in the initial feeding position (with the mouth of the guide in close relation to the inner periphery of the receiver).

In operation, as the film roll in the receiver increases in thickness, the receiver rides down over the inclined support in proportion to the radial movement of the receiver so as to maintain the bottom of the receiver always, in a predetermined close relation with respect to the mouth of the guide. \Vhen the film roll is to be removed from the receiver, the receiver may be lowered to disengage it from the pintle by lowering the inclined support upon which the receiver rides. To allow for this movement. the inclined support may be pivoted at the 'point- 28. so as to swing downward, and may 'I'Qgl lltll' manner.

be held in its uppermost position by means of a spring-pressed pin 29, engaging under the portion 3 of thesupporting arm, so that when said pin is withdrawn, the arm will drop down. The receiver also is prefelablv provided with a cover 81. This cover may be carried by the swinging arm and it is provided with a radial slot 32, therein, to permit the passage of the guide and to allow for the radial movement of the receiver with respect to the guide. In order to hold the film properly coiled within the receiver in case it should brealnnidlength, I preferably provide a spring clip 38 (Fig. 6) which is simply inserted over the main body of the film and the broken end thereof, to hold the coil in regular shape. If then the film should break midlength while it is being exhibited, this clip would be clamped over the broken end of the film and the remainder of the film would then be fed forward in the In order to permit of a certain adjustment of the guide with respect to the machine and to the receiver, the said guide is preferably clamped in a holder 33, which is rotatircly engaged on a bracket 34, as by means of a securing screw The guide ma y be adjustably clamped within the holder by means of a sliding clamping memher 36. which is clamped up against the guide by means of a securing screw 37.

It ill be understood that this invention may be adapted either to the camera for taking the pictures. or to the projecting apparatus for exhibiting the same.

As a convenient means of support for the guide rolls 6, the bottom of the film support casing is preferably providedwith a tongue or forward extension 39 (Figs. 2 and 4) in which therolls are journaled, and a nose or extension it) on the cover serves to inclose the guide rolls.

hat is claimed, is:

1. The combination of a horizontally disposed rotatable recciver having a bottom which slopes downward toward the outer peripherv thereof, supporting means for the receiver, means for winding a roll of flexible material into the said receiver with the leading end out and from the outside progressively inward toward the center, and means for automatically lowering the receiver as the flexible material is wound in the receiver so that the flexible material will always he presented to the same point vertically in the receiver notwithstanding its sloping bottom.

2. In a moving picture machine, a freely rotatable film receiver adapted to receive its motion from the winding motion of the film therein and provided with means for holding the film during the winding thereof outward against the inner periphery of the oeiver, the said receiverhaving, a. inovenient with respect: tothe vguide to allow for the increase in size-of the film roll as it' is wound in theireceiver. 1

3. In a moving picture machine, a filmre- 'ceiver having itsabottom inclined from the center toward the periphery thereof so. as to hold the film as-it is coiled thereinoutward in close-engagement with; the inner periph+ cry of the receiver, asupporting.means for.

the recei ver,a guide for directing; the film into the edge portion of the rece1ver,;.the

said guide and receiver having a relative.

' movement one with'respect tothe other to allow for the increasein size of the film roll as it is wound in the receiver, and means for vm'aintaini'nga constant relation between the i mouth ofthe guide and the inclined bottom of the receiver during the relative movement of the guide and receiver. 4. In a moving picture machine, a fil j receiver freely rotatable to respond to the winding motion ofa coil offilm, a station- .ary and rigid guide. means'for directing the leading end of the film into the receiver, and meansfor holding the film as it is coiled in the receiver, outward toward the rim of the receiver.

5. In a moving picture machine, feeding means for imparting motion to. the'film, a

film receiver having an annular rimand freely rotatable to respond to the feeding;

' motion of the film, a rigid guiding means 4 for the tape, means adapted to feed the-tape the said receiver being for directing the leading 1 end of the film against the 'rim of the receiver, whereby the film is coiled progressivelv inward, with the leading-end on the outside,rand means for.

holding the film asvit is coiled in the re: ceiver, outward against the rim of the receiver. V r

6. In combination, means engaging a roll of tape of'fiexible material for imparting a feeding motion thereto, her for said roll, a loosely mounted receivself, a guide for directingthe film into the receiver so that the receiver will respond to the motion of the tape as it rewinds, and means for holding the tape during the rewinding thereof, outward against the inner periphery of the receiving member. 7

In combination with a supporting member for a roll of fiexibletape, a receiver into the receiver, loosely mounted so as .to receive motion from the feeding actionof the tape and to I thereby coil the-tape within the'receiver,

' and-means for holding the tape while it is being coiled in the receiver,outwardagainst,

the inner periphery thereof.

- 8. A supporting member adapted to sup-' a passive re port a roll offlexible tape, ceiving member, driving means for engaging the tape to impart a feeding movement ing member tothe receiver, a stationary guide for coiling the tape within the-rea supporting mem-- ing member into which the .tape winds it and o a freely rotatable ing member, a rigid guide for directing the tape into the receiver and means provided thereto from the supporting to the receiv- V by the receiver for holding the tape a's iti's coiled the-rein, outward against the finner periphery of said receivmg. member.

9. The combination :with'. av supporting: I

member, and a rotatable-receiver, means'f'or'v conveying a flexible tape from the supportceiver, the saidreceiver andiguide having-a outer portion toward the center of theVretatable film receiver; means'engaging'thef film to impart a feedingmovement thereto,

a' rigid and stationary one with respect to the other to permit coilguide for directing 'i and'coiling the filmwithin the receiver, the; said receiver and guide having a movement; co: ing. action of the film within thereceiv'er, 1

and means for holding the film V outward Ti against the inner periphery of the receiver a as itis coiled within sald receiver,

11. In a moving picture machine, the combination of a relatively stationary guidin L means, a; film receiver mountedto be rotate V idly around itsownaxis and to oscillate-f Iidly with reference to the guiding means? on i a center outside of its axis of. rotation, means for moving a film through Sdld guideing means substantially radially into th'elrecelver so as to engageihtl 3 thereof,}the

film receiver being rotated by the impulse from themoving film, whereby the film is wall of the same.

machine, film feeding mechanism comprising asupport for the unused portion of the f film, a receiver for the used portion of the 211 axis, means for guiding the film into-the re-y ceiver from the feeding mechanism where- 5L v bythe contact of the film with the receiver I will cause the receiver to rotate and the film' mounted to rotate freely upon its own film to be coiled within the receiver with the leading end out, and means for forcing the,

film outward against the inner periphery of the receiver soas tocoil the, film in a com-1 pact mass resting against the inner periplh 'v13.- 1n combination, alfilmsupportymeans 1 for imparting feeding motionto-the film,

film receiver having a r conical bottom to-direct the film toward'the 0 cry of the receiven IlIIl portion thereof, and means for auto wound in the receiver inward .from'theicen ter'thereof'and'with its leading endiout, p and-means for .forcing the film as it is," i wound in the receiver, outward against-the I 1 ".12, In combination with a inoving picture matically lowering the receiver as the film is wound therein upon said conical bottom.

14. In a moving picture machine, guiding means for the film, a receiver adapted to receive the film from the guiding means and having a bodily movement toward and away from said guiding means, the said film receiver having a bottom slanting from the center toward the rimthereof, and means for maintaining a predetermined relation between the guide and the slanting bottom of the receiver during the bodily movement of the receiver. i

15. In a moving picture machine, a rotatable film receiver having a conical bottom, a support for the receiver, a guide for directing the film into the said receiver, the said guide and receiver having a relatively' mouth of the guide during the forward movement of the receiver.

17. In combination, a swinging arm, a film receiver rotatively engaged on the end of said swinging arm, a member upon which the receiver rides during the swinging movement thereof whereby the receiver is raised and lowered, and a guide for directing the film into the receiver.

18. In combination, a swinging arm, a

film receiver rotatively engaged on the end .-of said swinging arm and provided with a bottom inclined toward the rim portion thereof, means to direct the film into the receiver and an inclined supporting member upon which the receiver rides during the swinging movement thereof.

19. In combination, a swinging arm, a film receiver rotatively engaged on the end ofsaid swinging arm and provided with a bottom inclined toward the rim portion thereof, an inclined supporting member upon which the receiver rides uring the swinging movement thereof, and means for guiding the film into the receiver.

20. In combination, a swinging arm, a film receiver rotatively engaged on the end of said swinging arm and provided with a bottom inclined toward the rim portion thereof, means to direct the film into the receiver, an inclined supporting member upon which the receiver rides during the swinging movement thereof, and means tending to normally hold the receiver at the upper portion of the inclined supporting member.

21. In combination, a swinging arm provided with a pintle, a film receiver. journaled to rotate on said pintle and provided with an inclined bottom, a support on which the film receiver is adapted to ride during the swinging movement thereof, said support arranged on an incline corresponding to the incline'of the bottom of the film receiver, and a guide for directing the film into the receiver.

22. In combination, a swinging arm carrying a pintle, a film receiver journaled to rotateon said pintle, means to direct the film into the receiver, a support on which the film receiver is adapted to ride during the swinging movement thereof, and means for lowering the support to permit disengagement of the receiver from the pintle. 28. Infa moving picture machine, a fill receiver having a bottom inclined downward toward the rim thereof, a film guide having the exit end thereof iniclose relation to the rim of the receiver, means for supporting a substantially'parallel relation between the guide andthe inclined bottom of the receiver as the coil of film in the receiver increases in thickness.

24. In a moving picture machine, a re tatable film receiver having a bottom inclined from the center toward the rim thereof, a guide for directing the film into the receiver, the said guide and receiver having a relatively radial movement one with re- 'spect to the other, a support for the receiver and means for maintaining the mouth of the guide closely adjacent to the inclined bottom of the receiver during the radial movement aforesaid;

;pact mass against said rim, a pivotal support for the receiver, and means to guide the film within the receiver.

27. .A horizontally disposed film receiver having a conical bottom whereby the film as it is coiled therein will be caused to graviing said receiver and means for maintaintate toward the edge portion of the receiver,

supporting means for the receiver, and means to direct the film into the receiver.

28. A horizontally disposed film receiver having a conical bottom whereby the film as it is coiled therein will be caused to gravitate toward the edge portion of the receiver, supporting means for the receiver and a guide for directing the film-into the receiver.

the receiver, a support for the receiver, andmeans to direct the film.into the receiver.

30. A, rotatable receiver'for a coil offihn,

having an inclined bott'omadapted to direct the film toward the edge "or-rimportion of the receiver, a supportfor the-receiver, and means for gu'din' I tionof the receiver. p p

31; In'combina'tion with'a support for a roll of film, means forimpa-rting feeding motion to the film, lacre'ceiver for the film,

having aiconi'cal b ')tto'm',".Supporting. means for the receiver and -nieans' -for guiding: the;- fihn intothe,rim{-p'ortion1of the};rec eiven' v 32.- A filmf'receiverhavingfia'n-jannular ggutterat the rim thereof 'to receive the lead I ingendiof -a coil of film,"a"supporting: memom lthe' center portion toward the receiver*for moving picture machineshav ng a conical "bottom terminat- I ing'ini a confining rim, there .being, provided an .annulandepressmn {at the .base of'sald rim, I meansv for supporting the receiver, and

means to directthe film into the receiver;

35. A filinreceiver forgmoving picture machines .having1; a conical bottom. for

' v spreading the {film outl towardthe periphery of the same,fI- and;; being "further provided with an annular peripheral depressiomsup- 'ing means for said 1 portin'g meansl forlthe receiver, and direct- 36. 'lhe' combinati'on" with a "-film receiver, and means'foris'upporting the same, of a1 V v guidefor directing the film. into said re ceiver,'-and an adjustable support for said guide whereby the guide may be adjusted With relation to the film receiver so that the properly directed into there- 'ceivei'.

g'the film in'toythe rim por-J as it .is' coiledfi'n the"receiver-foutward ;to

' ward the rim "'"of the receiver to thereby coithe film into a regular compactflbodyq;

" "38: ln conibination,"asubstantially cyhninto engagement'with the rimfportionthere: he'receiver, ,jandguid'emeans for I i 'in the receiver-outward toward" h in film-receiver having-"a bottom in regular-fcompactibody; and nice d provided. Withvan annular. i atithe iextremefrim portion therememberfor the receiver," andjd 'ecting' rneans for. said film.

' the receiver increases sii and having an, upwardly extending confining rim, a substantiallyfvertical' pivot on which the receiver; is rotatablyyengaged, a

'portionfthereof, and.meansifor' niaintaining the bottom of the receiver and 'ithez-mouth ofthe guides: as the coil of :film

37; In combination, a substantially cy1in-.

drical, horizontally disposed film.v receiver having an upwardly extending confining. rum-inwardly projecting members {formed 1 .on -the rim,a substantially vertical pivothaving} an *upwardly extending Qconfinin'g rim, a substantially vertical 1 pivot on which; said receiver -rotatablyiengaged,a guide for directing the' film into the, receiveriand taining a substantially; constant mouth of, the igui'dej as he 01 39. In combination,ia-"substantially cylim dric'al, 'hori'zontally disposed, film j receiver having a substantially? conical-bottom" inclined downwardly, toward,.the =rim thereof "l fe ?tingli h 5 3 5 1 9 th ceiver and] into eng'agernent with the mm a substantially consta'nt relation between i hie' be-r ceiver increases in'si'ze. ,V

vSigned-at 'New York inl'the-f-county of New York and State of New York 'this 29th fj-v j day of March A. P 1 1 EQBGEWA BI AMn "Witnesses:.- 1 '1' MABLE. SHAW, Prunrr S. McLntN. 

